Author Archives: SE16.com

Sellar teams up with Notting Hill for Decathlon site redevelopment

Posted on by

decathlon

Work will begin this autumn on the development of more than 1,000 homes on the Decathlon site at Canada Water.

Southwark councillors approved the plans for the development – which includes a 40-storey tower – at the end of last year.

Now the developer Sellar has signed an agreement with Notting Hill Housing to work together on the scheme which will provide:

  • 453 homes for private sale
  • 346 home for private rent
  • 69 shared ownership homes
  • 162 homes to be let at ‘Affordable Rent’

Kate Davies, Chief Executive of Notting Hill Housing, said: “Following a detailed discussion process, we are pleased to confirm that contracts have now been signed and Notting Hill Housing will work with Sellar Design & Development to deliver over 1,000 homes through an exciting new partnership.

“The project at Canada Water will not only introduce properties to buy in Southwark, but it will also provide a much-needed boost to the rental options in the area.

“It marks a significant move in our ambition to create more quality new homes across central London and, in particular, to expand our ‘open market rent’ portfolio.

“This scheme will represent our largest ever development of new rental homes and will increase our exciting offering by almost 50 per cent.”

James Sellar, chief executive of Sellar Design & Development and son of Shard developer Irivine, added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Notting Hill Housing; a leading provider of rented homes in the capital. The scheme will provide a truly striking development in the heart of a previously overlooked part of London as well as creating a new town centre for Canada Water.

“Over the past three years we have worked closely with local residents and Southwark Council to meet everyone’s aspirations for the site and to provide a focal point for both the existing community and the new residents that will be attracted to Canada Water over the next five years or so.”

New principal for Compass ‘free school’

Posted on by

The Compass secondary ‘free school’ on the former Southwark College Bermondsey campus has appointed Lauren Thorpe as its new principal.

She has been interim principal since the departure of Tony Searle at the end of last term.

In a letter to parents, chair of governors Dale Bassett wrote:

Following a full, open recruitment process, we are absolutely confident that we have selected the right person to lead Compass School on the next stage of its journey.

I know that you will trust that we have made the best decision in the interests of the school and your children, and I am pleased that this presents an opportunity to draw a line under the disruption of the past few months and focus on the future.

Lauren and I are very excited to build on the school’s successes this year as we look forward to growing in September.

 

Tributes to Snowy Davoll

Posted on by

Tributes have been paid to Revd Snowy Davoll who was known to many people in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe.

‘Snowy Davoll was an example, friend, pastor, supporter and teacher to thousands of Bermondsey young people and their families,” said Simon Hughes MP.

“Snowy and Sybil Davoll came to Cambridge University Mission and to Bermondsey, gave us a huge part of their lives and won enormous love, respect and admiration. And they changed so many lives for good. Sybil, Andrew, David and their families know that many, many people are sharing their loss.”

Adrian Greenwood has written an appreciation which can be read here.

A Memorial Service will take place at St James Church Thurland Road SE16 on Saturday 5 April at 12 noon. All are welcome.

Se also www.snowydavoll.com

 

St James Supermarket faces licence review

Posted on by

The St James Supermarket at the corner of Southwark Park Road and St James’s Road is facing a review of its 24-hour premises licence.

Full details on the council website.

Prevention of Crime and disorder

  • The business had in possession for supply 69 bottles of alcohol where no duty had been paid and/or the product was counterfeit.
  • Failure to implement conditions of licence as outlined.

Public Safety

  • Counterfeit Smirnoff was seized. Counterfeit alcohol is usually manufactured in uncontrolled environments with minimal/no quality control and the alcohol used often of a grade that is not suitable for personal consumption.

The prevention of public nuisance

  • The provision of a bottle opener hanging on a piece of string at the counter and the offer to use it for the customer permitted alcohol to be consumed on the premise and to allow alcohol to be readily consumed on the streets was likely to lead to public nuisance
  • Failure to display a notice in a position where it can be read by customer a notice asking customers to respect neighbours by discouraging noise

The protection of children from harm

  • >Failure to adopt and implement an age verification scheme including the use of a refusal book for the purpose of recording all refused sales of alcohol and a recognised training scheme for all staff concerned with the sale or supply of intoxicating liquor, records of which shall be kept and made available for inspection.)

A new pier for Rotherhithe by 2020?

Posted on by

Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, has outlined his vision for a new pier in Rotherhithe to support local growth and to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower.

Simon and local Liberal Democrats have met with representatives of Transport for London to argue the case for a new river pier and commuter service in  Rotherhithe to be included in TfL’s River Action Plan.

The pier has the backing of Liberal Democrat councillors and Robert Hulse, director of the  Brunel Museum.

“I believe it is vital we encourage development right along the river – from central locations such as Westminster to areas further east such as Rotherhithe in my own constituency,” said Simon Hughes.

“In 2020 it will be 400 years since the Mayflower set sail from Rotherhithe for Plymouth and on to New England. We should mark and celebrate this occasion with the construction of a new pier in Rotherhithe, which would connect Rotherhithe’s past with its future, by supporting local growth and tourism.

“The proposal has support from Liberal Democrat councillors, local employers and residents, and the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe. I am now calling on the Mayor and Transport for London to develop detailed plans for this new pier. I am sure it can be a great success.”

 

Vitalijs Janovics murder: was he stabbed at Bermondsey Wall East?

Posted on by

mdr71-11janovicspic2Detectives investigating the 2011 murder of Vitalijs Janovics in Bermondsey have issued new information concerning his last known movements.

A reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the murder also remains available.

Police and London Ambulance Service were called at around 1.10am on 22 July 2011 to reports of an injured man in Jamaica Road SE16.

Mr Janovics, aged 38 of Long Lane SE1, was taken by ambulance to King’s College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

He had suffered a single stab wound to his heart.

On Wednesday 2 April a team of detectives from the homicide and major crime command, led by Detective Chief Inspector Nicky Wall, and the local neighbourhood policing team will be out conducting house-to-house inquiries and distributing leaflets in the hope new information/witnesses will come to light.

DCI Wall said: “We know that Mr Janovics arrived at Bermondsey underground station shortly before midnight and went into the Payless Food & Wine store on Jamaica Road where he purchased alcohol and cigarettes.

“He then waited around to use a nearby ATM machine and at about midnight walked towards Thames Path and Bermondsey Wall East – I now believe this is where he was stabbed.

“I also believe it is possible Mr Janovics did not realise he had been wounded as he returned to the Payless Food and Wine store where he attempted to purchase more alcohol before becoming unsteady on his feet and collapsing in Jamaica Road.

“My aim is that this new information will trigger someone’s memory of something they may have witnessed on Bermondsey Wall East that night and perhaps thought it was not serious enough to be connected to a murder.

“I would urge you to contact the incident room or Crimestoppers with any information you may have.”

Police are asking anyone with information to call the Incident Room on 020 8785 8963; or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Kai Taliana, then 19, of Vauban Estate, SE16 and  Khaled Ait-Said, then 19, of Guinness Court, Mansell Street, E1 were found not guilty of murder at the Old Bailey on 17 October 2012.

In Curious Company: intergenerational community dance & storytelling project

Posted on by

Southwark based Arts Odyssey has secured Arts Council England funding to work in partnership with Canada Water Culture Space to deliver its cross arts and intergenerational participation and performance project In Curious Company.

What makes us curious? Curiosity, a human quality which pushes us to inquire, explore and learn inspires this project. Arts Odyssey will be exploring the curiosities of their local Southwark community through contemporary and creative dance, storytelling and creative writing.

Initially, Arts Odyssey will offer free taster workshops for families, disabled and non-disabled youth and adults.

Participants will learn new creative and technical dance, writing and storytelling skills whilst having fun and meeting new people.

Arts Odyssey will then work regularly with a group of youth and a group of adults, building towards an evening of performance, sharing and entertainment at Canada Water Culture Space.

Participants will work with professionals and be given the opportunity to create their own movement with others in friendly and enjoyable weekly sessions.

The newly formed youth dance company and Odyssey Community Adult Dance Company will start rehearsing in April ready to entertain an audience of 150 people at Canada Water Culture Space in June. Using Canada Water Library as a resource they will creatively explore what interests them, what they find peculiar, funny or bizarre.

Louisa Pestell, artistic director of Arts Odyssey, said: “Arts Odyssey prides itself on offering high quality dance opportunities accessible to all. In Curious Company is particularly exciting for us because working in partnership with Canada Water Culture Space and creative writer and storyteller, Sandra Agard, enables us to provide access to fun and free cross-arts participation opportunities for a wider range of people regardless of their age or previous experience.”

Brunel lettering unveiled at Rotherhithe roundabout

Posted on by

On Sunday the Mayor of Southwark tweeted this photo:

The two metre high forged steel letters have been crafted by  blacksmith Kevin Boys and his apprentices at their forge in Surrey Docks Farm.

Individual hot carved plates have also been designed & created, by pupils from the local Bacons College.

Their plates have been incorporated into the letters sculpture as part of their school’s science and engineering programme.

The letters signage is first phase of the Brunel Statue Group’s vision to erect a 15-metre statue commemorating Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Funded by Bermondsey & Rotherhithe Community Council’s ‘Cleaner Greener Safer’ Fund.

Labour pledges superfast broadband for Rotherhithe

Posted on by

“Unacceptably slow broadband speeds in Rotherhithe are one of the most frustrating issues faced by people in the area, so I’m delighted to announce that Southwark Labour will work with broadband providers to bring superfast broadband to Rotherhithe,” said Labour leader Cllr Peter John.

“The government has promised that 95 per cent of premises in the UK will have access to superfast broadband by 2017 and it is unacceptable that areas like Rotherhithe have so far been left out.

“I will continue to push broadband providers to take action and the next Labour administration will ensure that residents in Rotherhithe have access to superfast broadband.” 

The pledge comes as Southwark Labour announces its manifesto for the local elections to be held on 22 May.